Easy Breezy Kimono Style Cardigan

Fabric: Polyester Chiffon from Joann's. The copyright info on the bias said marcus brothers design c2509
Pattern: Self drafted/followed a tutorial by elle apparel - I shortened the length and made my sleeves a bit wider.

It has been hot here in Colorado, I know it's not as bad as the humid heat the Midwest has, but when it's 100 degrees out and you're as close to the sun as we are it still isn't comfortable. Who wants to wear clothes in this weather? This past weekend I was thinking about how I wanted to just wear crop tops and shorts everywhere, but seeing as how I live in a small town and not a big city I'd probably just get weird stares. Normally I'd just cover up with a cardigan, but those just seem stifling in this weather. I wanted something that could be used like a cardigan but was lightweight and felt nice and airy. Enter the kimono cardigan! I hadn't really ever thought about making one of these but Caroline from Sewaholic posted the other day about things she wants to make this summer and on the list was a kimono. She posted three links: 1) a tutorial by elle apparel (which is what I used to construct mine), 2) an awesome cotton kimono cardigan by crab and bee, 3) two beautiful chiffon kimonos by katy and laney. I was hooked and inspired and the tutorial didn't seem too long and so I whipped this guy up in under 2 hours!!! A new sewing record, but it was good sewing, not the angry rush sewing I talked about a week or so ago.

I love how much drape this fabric has, and the wide sleeves. Except for when you get them caught on things

 

I think this is one of my favorite things I've ever made. I feel like I could and will live in this thing for the rest of the summer or maybe my life. It's super comfy, light, and airy. Even though it's really casual I feel like it could look dressy. I decided to finish all of the seams using a french seam finish since chiffon tends to fray, and the material is so see through I didn't want people to be able to see the hems through the fabric. A couple months ago I wasn't even aware of what a french seam was/is, which makes me feel like i'm really getting better at this sewing thing.



I really want to make another sheer version in black, and then a much longer solid version in a cotton batik if I can find the right fabric. I'm officially obsessed, and hope you all are too!

Fabric: Polyester Chiffon from Joann's. The copyright info on the bias said marcus brothers design c2509
Pattern: Self drafted/followed a tutorial by elle apparel - I shortened the length and made my sleeves a bit wider.

It has been hot here in Colorado, I know it's not as bad as the humid heat the Midwest has, but when it's 100 degrees out and you're as close to the sun as we are it still isn't comfortable. Who wants to wear clothes in this weather? This past weekend I was thinking about how I wanted to just wear crop tops and shorts everywhere, but seeing as how I live in a small town and not a big city I'd probably just get weird stares. Normally I'd just cover up with a cardigan, but those just seem stifling in this weather. I wanted something that could be used like a cardigan but was lightweight and felt nice and airy. Enter the kimono cardigan! I hadn't really ever thought about making one of these but Caroline from Sewaholic posted the other day about things she wants to make this summer and on the list was a kimono. She posted three links: 1) a tutorial by elle apparel (which is what I used to construct mine), 2) an awesome cotton kimono cardigan by crab and bee, 3) two beautiful chiffon kimonos by katy and laney. I was hooked and inspired and the tutorial didn't seem too long and so I whipped this guy up in under 2 hours!!! A new sewing record, but it was good sewing, not the angry rush sewing I talked about a week or so ago.

I love how much drape this fabric has, and the wide sleeves. Except for when you get them caught on things

 

I think this is one of my favorite things I've ever made. I feel like I could and will live in this thing for the rest of the summer or maybe my life. It's super comfy, light, and airy. Even though it's really casual I feel like it could look dressy. I decided to finish all of the seams using a french seam finish since chiffon tends to fray, and the material is so see through I didn't want people to be able to see the hems through the fabric. A couple months ago I wasn't even aware of what a french seam was/is, which makes me feel like i'm really getting better at this sewing thing.



I really want to make another sheer version in black, and then a much longer solid version in a cotton batik if I can find the right fabric. I'm officially obsessed, and hope you all are too!

Bombshell Swimsuit

Fabric: Merlot colored rayon/spandex blend from Colorado Fabrics
Pattern: Bombshell Swimsuit by Closet Case Files - $11.00

I made a Bombshell Swimsuit over the weekend (it was a really productive sewing weekend, I can't wait to share all of my makes). I'm not just calling it a bombshell because it's awesome or because I feel like a bombshell in it; it's the Bombshell Swimsuit pattern by Closet Case Files. I've never sewn a swimsuit before, and I wasn't particularly worried. Based on all of my blog stalking I've seen a lot of Bombshell swimsuits made by many other people and not only did everyone say that the pattern was awesome and the instructions easy to follow, but they all looked great in their swimsuits as well.

                         I probably could've cropped these pictures - hello computer chair! Hopefully it keeps the focus off of my butt

I went back and forth between the instructions and just following the pictures in the sewalong posts that Heather had done for the swimsuit. I'd say the whole printing of the pattern and cutting the pieces took the longest, and the actual sewing of the swimsuit only took about a day and a half. About halfway through once I had the bottom portion all put together I tried it on, only to realize that my lining fabric wasn't nearly as stretchy as my main fabric. BIG MISTAKE. I felt like a sausage. Luckily the way the suit is constructed you basically have a lined front part, with another front bodice covering, so I was able to cut out the lining of the front part without having to worry that the suit would become see through. After that the fit was much better because the main fabric had a lot of stretch. Besides that one little snafu this thing fits great. I feel like it looks really fancy and dare I say sexy without being too revealing. I feel like all of my parts are covered adequately and I don't have to worry about anything falling out. I was a little bit worried about all of the ruching, but it is very forgiving and I feel like this is the suit I would wear on a day when I'm not really feeling like having my stomach exposed to the world.

All that's left is to try it out in water, fingers crossed it doesn't fall apart!

Fabric: Merlot colored rayon/spandex blend from Colorado Fabrics
Pattern: Bombshell Swimsuit by Closet Case Files - $11.00

I made a Bombshell Swimsuit over the weekend (it was a really productive sewing weekend, I can't wait to share all of my makes). I'm not just calling it a bombshell because it's awesome or because I feel like a bombshell in it; it's the Bombshell Swimsuit pattern by Closet Case Files. I've never sewn a swimsuit before, and I wasn't particularly worried. Based on all of my blog stalking I've seen a lot of Bombshell swimsuits made by many other people and not only did everyone say that the pattern was awesome and the instructions easy to follow, but they all looked great in their swimsuits as well.

                         I probably could've cropped these pictures - hello computer chair! Hopefully it keeps the focus off of my butt

I went back and forth between the instructions and just following the pictures in the sewalong posts that Heather had done for the swimsuit. I'd say the whole printing of the pattern and cutting the pieces took the longest, and the actual sewing of the swimsuit only took about a day and a half. About halfway through once I had the bottom portion all put together I tried it on, only to realize that my lining fabric wasn't nearly as stretchy as my main fabric. BIG MISTAKE. I felt like a sausage. Luckily the way the suit is constructed you basically have a lined front part, with another front bodice covering, so I was able to cut out the lining of the front part without having to worry that the suit would become see through. After that the fit was much better because the main fabric had a lot of stretch. Besides that one little snafu this thing fits great. I feel like it looks really fancy and dare I say sexy without being too revealing. I feel like all of my parts are covered adequately and I don't have to worry about anything falling out. I was a little bit worried about all of the ruching, but it is very forgiving and I feel like this is the suit I would wear on a day when I'm not really feeling like having my stomach exposed to the world.

All that's left is to try it out in water, fingers crossed it doesn't fall apart!